# NTSB CHI99LA348: Cessna 172N, N738FA, Des Moines, IA, September 27, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 26, 1999, 22:46 local (Sep 27, 1999, 03:46 UTC) - Place: Des Moines, IA - Coordinates: 41.579792, -93.680046 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5798&lon=-93.6800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47438 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA348 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47438/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA348 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper in-flight planning and decisions which led to fuel exhaustion. A factor relating to this accident was the telephone pole. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - utility pole (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that 'he encountered engine failure' at 3,000 feet mean sea level. The pilot performed a forced landing to a street in a residential area, 1.6 miles east of the Des Moines International Airport, Des Moines, Iowa. The pilot said, 'Upon landing, I struck a telephone pole with the left wing.' Examination of the airplane's two main fuel tanks revealed no fuel. Approximately 1 pint of fuel was recovered from the accumulator tank and lines to the engine. No other anomalies were found. ## Factual narrative On September 26, 1999, at 2246 central daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N738FA, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when during a forced landing to a street in a residential neighborhood, the airplane's wing struck power lines and a pole, and subsequently impacted the ground. Previous to the forced landing, the airplane's engine lost power while descending for approach and landing at the Des Moines International Airport, Des Moines, Iowa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted on a VFR flight plan operating under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported no injuries. The cross-country flight originated at Woodruff, Wisconsin, at 1900 cdt, and was en route to Des Moines, Iowa. In his written statement, the pilot said that "he encountered engine failure" at 3,000 feet mean sea level. "An emergency landing was attempted on McKinley Street. Upon landing, I struck a telephone pole with the left wing." Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the airplane at the accident site. The airplane was found resting upright, backed up against some trees, in the hollow of a vacant lot, in a residential neighborhood located 1.6 miles east of the Des Moines International Airport. Preceding the airplane, a power pole was found pushed over. There was metal skin from the airplane's left wing suspended in a power line coming off of the pole. The airplane's left wing leading edge was torn out at mid-span. The airplane's right wing tip was broken off. The nose wheel was broken aft. The engine mounts and firewall were bent up and aft. The airplane's wing and fuselage skins showed heavy buckling and bending. The propeller showed no damage. Examination of the airplane's two main fuel tanks, which were found intact, revealed no fuel in either tank. Approximately 1 pint of fuel was recovered from the accumulator tank and lines to the engine. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Examination of the engine, engine controls and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N738FA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N738FA), registered now, S/N 17269933, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17269933 - Airframe hours: 6016 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Foxtrot Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 7, 1999, 42 hours before - Departed: ARV, WOODRUFF, WI - Destination: DSM - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: DSM, Des Moines International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 79 total, 79 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 350° at 4 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DSM, 2 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19990926047239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990926047239A), Sep 26, 1999: Cessna 172N, Des Moines, IA, Substantial damage. (.4) The pilot said that 'he encountered engine failure' at 3,000 feet mean sea level. The pilot performed a forced landing to a street in a residential area,… ## Other investigations on N738FA (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB DEN84LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84LA149), May 14, 1984: Cessna 172N (N738FA), Kindred, ND, substantial damage From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.